Lawn Mowers, Not Specified
Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.
Lawn & Garden Equipment · CPSC Code 1439
Stable over 5 years
The verdict
Lawn Mowers, Not Specified carry a danger score of 47/100 (moderate risk), driven by roughly 44,445 ER-treated injuries a year that are roughly flat over the last five years.
- 47/100
- danger score (moderate risk)
- 44,445
- ER visits per year (avg)
- 9.9%
- end in hospital admission
- 45-54
- most-injured age group
Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1439 - last data year 2024.
PlainSafety danger score
How this 47/100 score is built
The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for lawn mowers, not specified - no opinion, no editorializing:
- Injury volume44,445 ER visits/yr
- Severity (hospitalization rate)9.9%
- Fatality rate0.42%
- 5-year trend-10%
See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.
What the CPSC Data Shows
Lawn Mowers, Not Specified (CPSC product code 1439, in the Lawn & Garden Equipment category) generate an estimated 44,445 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 888,906 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 47/100 for this category (moderate risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are roughly flat over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2024 (56,573 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2007 (35,688 estimated visits).
The single most common ER diagnosis for lawn mowers, not specified is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 73,232 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by other to the upper trunk (69,797 cases). The 45-54 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 168,890 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 9.9% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.42%) result in fatality.
Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 29 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how lawn mowers, not specified fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.
Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)
Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only
Who Gets Injured?
| Age Group | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-4 | 4,221 | 1,094 | |
| 5-14 | 15,931 | 5,181 | |
| 15-24 | 53,914 | 10,793 | |
| 25-34 | 84,294 | 24,383 | |
| 35-44 | 108,694 | 33,830 | |
| 45-54 | 129,361 | 39,514 | |
| 55-64 | 124,131 | 35,557 | |
| 65-74 | 98,820 | 26,017 | |
| 75+ | 76,585 | 16,545 |
Most Common Injuries
| Body Part | Diagnosis | Est. Injuries |
|---|---|---|
| Finger | Laceration | |
| Upper Trunk | Other | |
| Lower Trunk | Strain, Sprain | |
| All Parts Body | Other | |
| Lower Trunk | Other | |
| Eyeball | Contusions, Abr. | |
| Eyeball | Foreign Body | |
| Hand | Laceration | |
| Ankle | Strain, Sprain | |
| Lower Leg | Laceration | |
| Finger | Fracture | |
| Lower Leg | Other | |
| Knee | Strain, Sprain | |
| Head | Internal Injury | |
| Shoulder | Strain, Sprain |
Severity Breakdown
ER Visit Narratives
Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.
54 YOM INJURED THIGH WHILE REPLACING MOWER BLADE, BLADE BROKE, CUT THIGH. DX- LACERATION LEFT THIGH
65YOM PRESENTS WITH A LACERATION TO HIS LEFT THUMB FROM A LAWN MOWER BLADE DX: FINGER LACERATION
30YOM HAS LACERATION TO THE RIGHT WRIST / FOREARM PT WAS CHANGING OUT HIS LAWNMOWER BLADE AND SOCKET BROKE AND HIS ARM SLIPPED CAUSING BLADE TO CUT ARM. DX: LACERATION RIGHT FOREARM.
56YOM C/O R EYE PAIN. 2 DAYS AGO THE PT WAS CLEANING OUT HIS LAWNMOWER & FELT SOMETHING GO INTO HIS R EYE. SINCE THEN SOME INCREASED ACHY PAIN. REDNESS;CRUSTY DRAINAGE AT TIMES. PT WEARS GLASSES. DX: FOREIGN BODY OF RIGHT CORNEA
53 YOM WORKING ON HIS LAWN MOWER, FINGER TIP CUT OFF DX FINGER TIP AMPUTATION
31 YOM MOWING HIS YARD, GOT METAL IN L ANKLE DX; FOREIGN BODY
26YOM STATES THAT HE WAS MOWING THE LAWN WHEN A SMALL ROCK KICKED UP AND HIT HIM IN THE LEFT EYE DX: ABRASION OF LEFT CORNEA
46 YOM R ELBOW PAIN PULLING LAWNMOWER DX; ELBOW PAIN
41 YOM SOMETHING IN L EYE WHILE MOWING HIS YARD DX; CORNEAL ABRASION
75YOM WAS MOWING HIS YARD WHEN HE DEVELOPED PAIN IN HIS CHEST DX:CHEST PAIN
44YOM PRESENTS WITH LACERATION TO LEFT PINKY FINGER AFTER CUTTING IT ON A LAWNMOWER DX: NAILBED LACERATION, LACERATION OF FINGER
80YOF,MECH TRIP AN FALL OVER LAWNMOVER HIT HEAD ON CONCRETE,DX:SCALP LAC
Consumer Incident Reports
Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.
Product - Murray lawnmower model M20300 with Briggs and Stratton model 80000, 300e series, 125cc engine. When mowing the lawn, the fuel cap vibrates off and splashes fuel over the engine in the vicinity of the muffler. I was mowing under bushes when the fuel cap came off. The lanyard snagged on a branch causing the fuel cap to come completely off. I then inadvertently ran it over.
My insured was mowing his lawn and the lawn mower set a blaze. A fireman stopped by with a backpack and The DNR stopped by. [REDACTED] put it out with water.
MTD brand lawn mower adapter, which is a metal piece that is used to hold the lawn mower blade to the shaft of the lawn mower's engine, cracks apart while the engine is running, causing the lawn mower blade to fall off. No injuries were sustained. However, given that when the product fails, the the spinning blade falls off of the lawn mower, injuries are likely. This happened on three different occasions. 1) original part failed that came with mower; 2) 1st replacement part failed that was purchased and installed to replace the original failed part; 3) 2nd replacement part failed that was purchased and installed to replace the first replacement part. All three times, the blade came off the mower. The part number is 753-0588 (blade adapter) for MTD brand lawn mower model no. 11A-428Q088.
This zero turning radius mower has an engine exhaust system designed to exit a muffler which faces downward and only a few inches from the ground. It has resulted in several near fires when stopped on dry leaves, and has produced extensive damage to turf and grass when the mower slows it's speed to go from one direction to the opposite direction.
The submitter is reporting the unit for posing a fire hazard. He states the gas tank is defective and should be recalled. He said the gas tank is made up of 2 plastic pieces that is glued together and over a period of time the tank begins to leak at the seam. He first noticed his gas tank leaking in June of 2017 and he said the issue has become worse with the tank leaking each time it is filled with gas. He contacted the firm and local authorized dealer to report the issue. The firm informed him that they have not received enough complaints on the issue to generate a recall. However, he noticed that similar models were recalled for the same issue. He indicated that he was mailed a coupon for a discount on another tank. He also noted that the replacement tanks have a different design with only one piece of plastic and he believes this is due to the firm knowing the defect with the tank. He read on a blog that multiple other models have the same design gas tank and reported the same issue. ALL ABOUT LAWNMOWERS.BLOGSPOT.COM (2015/06) THE-JOHN-DEERE-FUEL-TANK-DEBACLE.HTML The unit is used twice a month from march to November
the circular blade came off flying. it's because the nut holding the blade is not reversed design. it unscrewed while the unit was rotating. The nut holding the circular blades should be opposite direction to the motion of the blade. its a dangerous tool, and should be recalled because ithe flying blade will kill people
This caller is reporting his electric lawnmower with 48 volt battery purchased sometime in 2015 and that he believes has a defect causing safety hazards with battery or charger. When the 48 volt battery went out on him the first time within the first year the manufacturer replaced both the battery and the charger. After approximately nine months the battery stopped working and when the caller picked it up battery acid leaked on his right hand and right thigh due to it leaking and causing a couple of mall blisters. The caller treated himself stating no need for physician. The caller contacted the manufacturer but states that they are not polite of cooperable. He has asked that this lawnmower become recalled.
I purchased a Weed Eater brand lawnmower June 2010. This is a horrible machine. The deck is so thin that I bumped into a fence post (lightly) and bent the front of the deck to the point that the blade was hitting the deck itself. I had to pull the deck back out with my hand. I have had this mower for a year now and the deck has split around the motor and along each wheel. I cannot believe this product meets any government standards as it states on the sticker claming ANSI conformity. This product cannot be safe as the metal is so soft and weak that it breaks under its own weight and use. This product should be taken off the market and re-engineered to withstand the use that it is intended for. If this product does pass government regulations then the regulations should be revisited. I believe this product is dangerous and unstable because if the deck that is breaking around the base of the motor was to complete I would have a motor and mowing blade slamming all over the place. This product is so cheaply made I will not allow its use any longer. I feel that this company as stolen my money and falsely advertised a product that did not meet its given advertisement. Product model# 961140014 01 Serial# 040609M 022092. This product should not be on the market in the United States we have better standards than this or should have anyway. [REDACTED]
Showing 8 of 29 reports.
Product Recalls
Search for active and past recalls related to lawn mowers, not specified on the CPSC website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dangerous are lawn mowers, not specified?
Based on 20 years of CPSC data, lawn mowers, not specified have a danger score of 47/100 (moderate risk). An estimated 44,445 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.
What are the most common injuries from lawn mowers, not specified?
The most common injury is laceration to the finger, accounting for approximately 73,232 injuries over 20 years.
Are injuries from lawn mowers, not specified increasing or decreasing?
Stable over 5 years.
Who is most at risk for lawn mowers, not specified injuries?
The 45-54 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 168,890 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.
What happens when someone is injured by lawn mowers, not specified?
Of all ER visits involving lawn mowers, not specified, approximately 9.9% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (90.1%) are treated and released from the emergency department.
How can I report a safety problem with lawn mowers, not specified?
You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.
Related Products in Lawn & Garden Equipment
Safety Guides
What this means for you
Treat the 47/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.
- See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
- Injuries cluster in the 45-54 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
- Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls
NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.
Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, scored, and verified.